Two companies announce plans to become the Tesla of the air
Airlines have been dreaming about electric passenger aircraft for decades, and now the technology is improving we might see the first electric passenger aircraft appear by 2030
Key takeaways
- Between them the pair hope that within a decade they’ll be able to launch a greener electric jet to take passengers between London and Paris by 2027.
- Even so though, the aircraft should still be more efficient and environmentally friendly that what’s currently in the air.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'Two companies announce plans to become the Tesla of the air', 311 Institute, 5 April. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/two-companies-announce-plans-to-become-the-tesla-of-the-air/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Hot on the heels of Rolls Royce’s CEO announcing that he thinks the future of flight is electric, and Dubai rolling out their own electric, autonomous Sky Taxi service in July this year, EasyJet, a low cost budget airline operating out of the UK, has partnered with Wright Electric, a European upstart with the dream of building the first electric passenger aircraft. Between them the pair hope that within a decade they’ll be able to launch a greener electric jet to take passengers between London and Paris by 2027.
As well as being one of the world’s biggest culprits, when it comes to pollution, aviation fuel is also horribly expensive, and even though airline companies hedge their bets and bulk buy fuel when it’s “cheap” the fact remains that a big move in oil prices can wipe out an airlines profit in the blink of an eye.
As far as EasyJet is concerned this is just prudent planning, not only does it give them a chance to dramatically reduce the cost of flying, and give pollution a kick in the gut along with it, but over the long term they’ll be able to offer passengers cheaper airfares which will make them more competitive in the market.
But the project is not without its risks, Wright co-founder Jeff Engler has admitted, if battery technology doesn’t advance quickly enough the plane may have to have a hybrid engine, rather than full electric. Even so though, the aircraft should still be more efficient and environmentally friendly that what’s currently in the air.
“Easyjet has had discussions with Wright Electric and is actively providing an airline operator’s perspective on the development of this exciting technology,” said EasyJet in a statement.
However, given the fact that electric cars have taken decades to develop are only just becoming a “luxury” reality, don’t expect electric planes to be taking off anytime soon, as Engler says:
“Tesla was founded back in 2003 and only really became a household name in 2012 with the Model S. It’s going to take an airplane company just as long, if not longer. We have to get started!”
But at least, between Rolls Royce, EasyJet and Wright Electric, they’ve started…
What this means for your organisation
Fuel cost is the driver.
A large move in oil prices can wipe out an airline's profit even with hedging. Electric aircraft are a hedge against that, not only an environmental choice.
Short routes come first.
London to Paris is the stated target. Firms should identify which of their routes or journeys are short enough to electrify first.
Hybrid is the fallback.
Engler concedes batteries may not advance fast enough. Plans should allow for a partial result rather than assume the full one.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- How exposed are our costs to fuel price swings?
- Which of our routes could electrify first?
- What would a hybrid outcome mean for our plans?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Airlines have been dreaming about electric passenger aircraft for decades, and now the technology is improving we might see the first electric passenger aircraft appear by 2030
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Wright Electric weflywright.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 5 April 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). Two companies announce plans to become the Tesla of the air. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/two-companies-announce-plans-to-become-the-tesla-of-the-air/
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